My husband had heart surgery in November and ever since then (for 6 months) he has had diarrhea almost every other day. He dropped 40 pounds and no one can help. Any suggestions on what to try?

I recommend that you consult with a qualified medical or clinical herbalist, who can assess your husband’s whole health picture to gain some insight to possible causes of his diarrhea. Diarrhea can be caused by bacterial or viral infection, disturbances of the nervous system, problems digesting fats and other causes.

Until you have some help, you could try a dairy-free, fat-free diet, drinking lots of water (most important for hydration) and astringent herbal teas. Red raspberry leaf and plantain leaf (Plantago lanceolata or Plantago major) is a good astringent and healing tea combination. Peppermint oil (available in capsule form at health food stores) helps to calm the digestive system.